People from all nationalities can apply, men, women, old and young are equally welcome. However, the requirements are tough, as UNV has to maintain its reputation for providing high quality volunteers to those institutions requesting their service.
Every candidate must have an absolute minimum five years post-qualification experience, usually in a narrow specialist field. And for those skill areas where there may be many applicants, priority is given to those with the greater experience.
UNV volunteers accept their mission not as employment but as voluntary service for a period of limited duration. In other words, a UNV assignment is not a career position. While serving as a UNV does not guarantee a future career with the UN, it is a rewarding experience that contributes to the personal enrichment of one's life, knowledge and skills.
Demands for UNV assignments come from more than 140 countries and cover a wide range of professional skills and competencies.
The majority of UNV assignments are filled by candidates from the UNV roaster database who have expressed an interest in becoming UNV volunteers.
Therefore, the best way to be considered for a UNV assignment is to apply. If you wish to register your profile in our database of potential candidates, please go to .
Annually, approximately 25,000 persons from all over the world apply to UNV Headquarters, and acceptance is highly selective. After a screening, about 10% are included in a computerized UNV roster.
This roster presently includes more than 6,000 candidates, in 115 different professional categories. To keep the roster up-to-date, candidates are requested to reconfirm their interest and availability every six months. Profiles can be up-dated by following .
UNV Volunteers in Special Operations
UNV supports short-term placements under its 'Special Operations' programme. In many ex-conflict countries (such as Sierra Leone, Timor Leste, Afghanistan or the Democratic Republic of Congo), there is a need for UNV volunteers with short assignments (usually 6 months), where the work will be very intensive and stressful, and for security reasons the family members cannot accompany the volunteers.
UNV volunteers supporting relief and peace efforts have at least two years of professional experience. They are able to work under difficult circumstances and offer a broad range of expertise, including administration, communication, electoral processes, food aid, humanitarian law, logistics and refugee settlements.
How can I apply specifically for the DRC?
Many people express interest in serving as a UNV Volunteer in the DRC. However, the process described above has to be followed. The UNV Office in Kinshasa cannot accept applications directly.
I am Congolese - how can I get a UNV post?
Congolese nationals are encouraged at any time to apply to serve as UNV volunteers. Interested candidates should simply fill up the online questionnaire available in the UNV volunteers website in order to enter the UNV roster. Interested candidates should